Jude Hardin

Author, Drummer, Turtle Whisperer

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Location: United States

Friday, April 07, 2006

ALWAYS THERE

A POEM FOR CAROL


I can see you there,
down by the waterfall,
planting flowers and smoking Winstons.
Closer to God, you say,
than any dusty old church.
The sound, a serene cacophony,
nature's heavy metal,
saturates the moment.

And then the moment is gone.

You stand on a chair,
screaming.
A mouse skitters across
Mom's red and gray tile floor
and hides under the stove.
I laugh,
the only time I've seen you show any fear.

You called me Stevie back then,
took me to the park on my birthday,
took pictures with the old Brownie.
I am a cowboy in shades of gray,
six-shooters drawn,
watching you frame the shot,
happy to see you smiling.

And then the moment is gone.

You baptize your legs
in the lazy Clearwater surf,
the eyes of an artist
viewing the sea for the first time.
You carry the box of chisels
from place to place,
have plans or maybe just an affinity
for them.

I hear the sizzle of chicken frying,
best in the world,
feel a cool hand on my fevered head.
Always the nurterer,
always a soul mate,
always there.

You drive me to the hotel,
the day I'm leaving for the Navy,
say, "You don't have to do this, you know."
But I have to.

And then the moment is gone.

I see you at the table
cutting tomatoes for sandwiches,
your eyes failing
but every slice perfect.
Happy in the sun,
the scent of grass that could have waited,
an hour of solitude,
of peace.

You teach me how to drive a car,
nervous as a cat but trying not to show it.
I fumble through,
knowing,
you are always there.

And then the moment is gone.

I sit for hours by the stereo,
at the old place on Cavelle,
playing stacks of forty-fives,
the rock and roll never too loud
at your house.

Down by the waterfall I hear it again,
the thunderous calming roar.
The moment, the music, never gone,
always there.
Always.

In my heart you are always there,
and the moment is never gone.

16 Comments:

Blogger Erica Orloff said...

What a beautiful poem.

E

6:48 PM  
Blogger Jude Hardin said...

Thank you, Erica.

9:11 PM  
Blogger Moncrief Speaks said...

Extraordinary. Thank you for sharing that poem.

5:01 PM  
Blogger Jude Hardin said...

Thanks, Moncrief.

12:11 AM  
Blogger Jude Hardin said...

Thanks for stopping by CC#1. That my words might have evoked some emotion is a great compliment.

Love the Crabby
Cow blog!!!

6:39 PM  
Blogger Shelli Stevens said...

I love this poem! You create such great visuals. It's very sweet. Thanks for commenting on my entry in crabby cows :) Dontcha just love them?

12:02 AM  
Blogger Jude Hardin said...

Thanks, Shelli!

Yes, I do love the crabby cows. I'm learning a lot from them.

10:38 PM  
Blogger Aaron Paul Lazar said...

The rhythm of this poem is lovely, but the emotions it evokes are even better. I lost my father 9 years ago (could it be that long already?) and find great solace in honoring him through my fiction. Actually, his death and the deep need I had to release feelings kickstarted my series. I related to these vignettes of memory so clearly. She must have been a wonderful woman.

3:02 PM  
Blogger Jude Hardin said...

Thank you, Aaron.

5:07 PM  
Blogger astrologymemphis.blogspot.com said...

Okay, so you're witholding a very snarky critique of my love scene on the Crabby Cow blog ... and I want to hear it, so send it to me, will ya?

I don't care what you say about mine, this poem is gorgeous. Absolutely outstanding. I don't think I've been here before, but you're on my favorites list now. I'll look forward to reading your love scene. It's bound to be brilliant.

I have to go read the poem again.

4:22 PM  
Blogger astrologymemphis.blogspot.com said...

Why can't I read your archives? I clicked on April, and nothing happened. And where are May, June, and the rest of July?

4:30 PM  
Blogger Jude Hardin said...

Thanks for the kind words, Southern Writer. My archives consisted of a few chaps from a middle-grade novel and another short poem, both of which I decided to delete. I'll start a proper blog one of these days. :)

5:13 PM  
Blogger Jude Hardin said...

Thank you, #1!

4:59 AM  
Blogger Aaron Paul Lazar said...

Hey, Jude! (sorry, I'm sure that happens to you daily!)

I know we discussed the possibility of you helping me with some edits. Are you still interested? I'm going over four of my older books now at my pubs request and would love to have you rip into them in some fashion.

Email me at aaron.lazar@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

2:52 PM  
Blogger Spy Scribbler said...

Wow, Jude. It brought tears to my eyes. So true.

5:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

TRYING TO LEAVE A COMEENT AND CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT

7:51 AM  

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